June 2 Colonial Church News

“Friend” Communion Worship on June 6

Your Personal Jesus Worship Series

Sigmund Freud thought that thinking about God as an invisible friend was, in his words, an “infantile projection” and a neurosis.

Yet, friendship with God and with one another was absolutely what people experience in Jesus. This Sunday we are going to explore the idea of Jesus as our friend. That simple concept has the power to change the world, and we certainly need more of it!

Come to Colonial Church to worship at 8:30 or 10:15 a.m.
Connect to online worship at 8:30 or 10:15 a.m. at https://colonialucc.online.church/
Or, you can worship anytime via YouTube at https://bit.ly/CCYouTubeVi d

Online Children's Sunday School. This week's Sunday School Bible story will go live on Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. https://bit.ly/CCYouTubeVid

Online Coffee & Conversation

Immediately following our online worship service (at 9:15 a.m.) grab a mug and come over to our community's Coffee & Conversation online.

You can connect at https://bit.ly/CCCoffeeCon

Upcoming Town Hall Meetings

Colonial is hosting a series of in-person and online Town Hall meetings over the next few weeks to give you a chance to catch up with members, hear what the leadership team is working on, and share your input. Back in February, most of you participated in the congregational survey about a possible capital campaign. These Town Halls are a follow-up to that and offer a more personal and interactive conversation.

Meetings at the church will include building tours while those held online will include a virtual tour, so you can really see what the conversation is about.

Please review the dates and times below. We will add or change times as needed to accommodate everyone. If you are a part of a group at the church who would like to have the Town Hall as the topic of your next meeting, let us know and we can make those arrangements.

Sessions:

June 6 - 9:00 a.m. Before 10:15 service
June 6 - 12:00 p.m. Following Annual Meeting
June 7 - 9:30 a.m., Heritage Room
June 8 - 1:00 p.m. virtual
June 10 - 7:00 p.m. Virtual

Please sign up at https://tinyurl.com/townhalls-colonial or contact the church office.

Congregational Meeting on June 6

Colonial's annual meeting will be Sunday, June 6 following the 10:15 a.m. service in the sanctuary and via Zoom. We will vote on the slate of officers for the new Church Council and the annual report will be presented. You can read the report here. Because the report is available here, we will not print many for the meeting.

Nominees for Church Council are:

Marylee Battaglia Assistant Moderator

Marylee is a retired educator and has been a member of Colonial Church since June

1983 when her daughter, Meredith, was baptized. Meredith is our youth group leader. Marylee has enjoyed Colonial's support through the highs and lows of the past 38 years.

Cindy Burgdorfer

Board of Worship

Cindy is a retired medical technologist and has worked in hospitals in suburban Chicago and suburban Kansas City. She is an avid member of the church's quilting group and has lead a gardening club at her homes association.

Mickey Gehring

Member-at-large

Mickey and her husband, Lou, joined Colonial Church a little over two years ago and found kindred souls with open hearts and minds and a welcoming spirit. They have two children and three young grandsons. Mickey’s lifelong work and passion is music: piano teaching, accompanying and performance.

Chad Leabo

Property Management

Chad and Ann started attending the 8:30 service in spring 2019, and love the people they’ve met and the inclusive, positive spirit of this church. Chad develops custom radio stations for sports venues, water parks and fitness centers.

Mary Penrose

Parish Life

Mary is extending her term as chair of Parish Life. She is a retired real estate appraiser and a member of the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature. At Colonial, in addition to Parish Life, she serves on the Colonial Women Board and works with our Artists Helping the Homeless outreach.

Elizabeth Uppman

Community and Member Development

Elizabeth has agreed to extend her term while a replacement is found to chair the Board of Community and Member Development. Ashley Chavez has decided not to serve as chair.

"Your Personal Jesus" Early Summer Sermon Series

The author Anne Rice declared in 2010: “I quit being a Christian. I’m out. I remain committed to Christ as always but not to being ‘Christian’ or to being part of Christianity.”

She echoes the thoughts of many people who feel that institutional Christianity has failed them, wounded them, or maybe just bored them. Yet, there is something about Jesus.

We're going to begin this summer exploring questions – even unorthodox ones – about who Jesus was and is to us. These questions may breathe new life and spirit into you and our world.

Because as we say in this church community: whoever you are...wherever you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.

Is there just one God? . . . Who is God? . . . What is God like? . . . Does God love me? . . . Can I know God?

Our kids grapple with questions like these every day. At Mystery Island, we’ll uncover the truth about our Creator God! There’s a sea of confusion about who God is and what he’s like, so we’ll track down the one true God and learn how amazing he is through the pages of Scripture.

Camp will be July 6-9, 9:00-11:30 a.m. Sign up your children, grandchildren and friends ages 4 years old through 4th grade at https://tinyurl.com/ColonialVBS-21.

We also need volunteers to help with music, art, Bible stories, snacks, games and as small group leaders. Please join this fun by signing up here.

Colonial Women Activities

With the return of nice weather and many of us already having received COVID vaccinations, we are returning to in-person Colonial Women’s activities.

Colonial Women Book Group - 7:00 p.m. Friday, June 4, Stacey Algren's home. We will discuss "The French Lieutenant’s Woman" by John Fowles.
Colonial Women Coffee - 9:30 a.m. on Monday, June 7, Heritage Room for Town Hall conversation.
Colonial Women Blue Moose Tuesday - 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 8. Blue Moose Prairie Village.

Upcoming Events

June 5 - Youth Movie Night featuring "Madagascar." Saturday, June 5, 7:30 p.m. outside at Colonial. Popcorn, candy and drinks provided. Bring lawn chairs and blankets.
July 16-20 - UCC Synod Youth Online Events

For more information, email or call Heather in the office.

VANish the Void Supplies

Pre-pandemic, Colonial helped Kar Woo and Artists Helping the Homeless by providing and serving a meal in Mill Creek Park once a month for homeless people. We hope to resume that outreach soon. In the meantime, the Colonial Board of Outreach is providing funds for non-perishable food items for Woo to hand out when he is out in the Be the Change van helping disadvantaged and homeless people in Kansas City. You can give to that effort here by selecting AHH from the dropdown menu.

Purchase of New Van for Artists Helping the Homeless

The Administrative Board has decided to donate $19,000 tor Artists Helping the Homeless to purchase a new van. Kar Woo uses the van to transport and assist the homeless. The congregation does not need to vote on that amount since it is under $20,000.

Summer Music

Help us plan our offertory music during worship this summer. If you sing or play an instrument we encourage you to share your talents. Our one request is that the music be spiritually inspired. Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/Colonial-summermusic

Your Support Matters

Our work together matters - to each other and to the community. Your pledges help Colonial do its work. You may mail in your pledge checks, as well as any other payments. An easier alternative is to make contributions online. You just fill in your banking information or provide a credit card and your name and email and what fund you are paying (Stewardship, food pantry, etc.) and the amount. Click the donate button below.

If you have any questions, you may email or call Heather in the office or Jayne Quimby, Financial Recorder.

Donate

Playground Dedication

As part of a larger Eagle Scout project, Nick Herbst, along with several Scouting associates updated the tables and benches in the playground area located behind the church off the nursery. The area was dedicated on May 30 following the 10:15 service with peach floats, popular among the scouts at their camp.

Celebrations!

Please remember these folks who are celebrating milestones.

Happy Birthday!

2 Nick Herbst

3 Hadley Cotten

6 Lowell Ferguson

7 Jan Parkinson

Happy Anniversary!

7 Jan Parkinson & Jayne Quimby

8 Dan & Rebecca Lu

Colonial Family

The life of Dorothy Mulford will be celebrated at noon on June 4 at Colonial.

Stephanie and Jason Graff and family were given a send off May 30 during the 10:15 service as they move to Providence, Rhode Island. They are having an open house style going away party 5;00-7:30 p.m. on June 9 at Gezer Park (3700 W 133rd St., Leawood). All are invited to bring a picnic dinner or not, stay the whole while or just pop in.